CADETS of the premiere military institution of the country will arrive Friday morning to participate in the 25th Kadayawan Festival.
Around 90 graduating PMA cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Fort Gregorio del Pilar, Baguio City, will be in the city to perform a silent drill exhibition on Sunday afternoon at the Agro-Industrial Foundation College.
A band exhibition will be presented by the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division Marching Band prior to the silent drill performance.
The PMA cadets will also attend social activities hosted by the different AFP units in Davao City and PMA Alumni Association, Inc. - Eagle Fraternal Chapter.
In a statement, the Philippine Army said this is in performing the Cadets' duty as "Ambassadors of Goodwill", to encourage the young, intelligent and strong Dabaweños to study in the Academy.
A PMA cadet is a full government scholar. He or she will stay in PMA to study a four-year Bachelor of Science degree for free, while receiving allowances from the government.
Upon graduation, PMA cadets join the regular officer corps of the AFP as Second Lieutenants of the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force or Ensign in the Philippine Navy.
An entrance examination for PMA cadetship will be held a week after the Kadayawan Festival. Another group of PMA officers and cadets will arrive to administer the entrance examination on Sunday, August 29, which will be held at the University of Mindanao, Matina Campus.
Any interested individual who possesses the following basic requirements can apply to take the examination:
1. Natural born Filipino citizen
2. Person of good moral character
3. Single and never been married
4. Minimum height: Male-5'4'; Female-5'2'
5. 17 to 21 years old (Born on or after April 1, 1989 or on or before
April 1, 1994)
6. At least a high school graduate with the general average of 85 percent or higher. For 4th year high school students, 3rd year general average of 85 percent or higher
7. Physically fit for Cadet training.
Application forms are available at the different major AFP units and can be downloaded from the PMA website www.pma.ph.
Interested applicants can also apply online through the same website. (Jade C. Zaldivar)